Robert Griffin III explains why teams want to avoid Lions in playoffs
Just six weeks ago, the Detroit Lions were left for dead along their playoff hopes.
But after wins in five of their last six games, including a 34-23 romping of the NFC North-leading Minnesota Vikings, former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III conceded that the Lions just may be the team everyone wants to avoid come the postseason.
After a 1-6 start, the Lions reeled off a three-game win streak — the first of Dan Campbell’s tenure as head coach — followed by a heartbreaking three-point loss to the Buffalo Bills before rebounding with back-to-back wins. They averaged 354.8 yards of total offense and nearly 30 points per games during that span.
The Lions have the No. 4 overall offense (376.4 yards per game), No. 5 scoring offense (26.8 points per game), and No. 7 passing offense (248.8 yards per game) in the NFL. Only six teams average more yards per pass attempt (7.6) and have thrown more touchdown passes (22) than Detroit, which has the fourth-most passes of 20 or more yards this season (46).
The Lions ground game, which ranks 11th with 1,658 yards, has accounted for the second-most runs of 40 or more yards (5), the third-most rushing touchdowns (19), and the ninth-most carries (371).
Detroit is now just 1½ games behind the New York Giants for the final wild card spot in the NFC. The Lions have a 43.3 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to The Athletic.
More must-reads: